West Platte enters its biggest rivalry game on a three-game losing streak, looking to win in KCI Conference play for the first time since 2015.
Lathrop scored 41 unanswered points in a 47-3 victory Friday, Sept. 8 in Weston, Mo., dropping West Platte to 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in league play. The Bluejays’ last KCI victory came Week 7 of 2015 against Mid-Buchanan in a season that ended with a Class 1 District 7 title.
In 2016, West Platte lost the final nine games of the season in a 1-9 campaign. The Bluejays opened this year under new coach Paul Thomas with a nonconference win against Lincoln Prep, but after a loss to Wellington-Napoleon, they have lost back-to-back KCI games by a combined score of 83-9.
Now, West Platte turns its attention to ending the skids with a trip to North Platte (1-3).
Last season, North Platte reclaimed The Tobacco Stick traveling trophy, ending a 12-game losing streak in the series with West Platte. The Panthers’ most recent wins in the series have come in 2006 and 2016, and they haven’t won two straight against West Platte since winning six straight from 1995-2000.
West Platte leads the all-time series 46-21 and won two games against North Platte in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
Gavin Davis (74 yards), Brayan Rodriguez (58 yards) and Noah Johnson (31 yards) continued to lead a balanced West Platte running attack in the loss to Lathrop. The passing game even recovered from a 0-yard performance against East Buchanan with six completions — two to Davis for 45 yards.
Davis’ 34-yard field goal in the first quarter briefly cut Lathrop’s lead to 6-3, and the Mules went into halftime up 20-3. Justin Wright scored four total touchdowns — two rushing, two receiving — for Class 2-ranked Lathrop, which entered off an upset of then-Class 1 No. 1 ranked Hamilton in Week 3.